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roselle

Hibiscus sabdariffa

Family: Malvaceae · Genus: Hibiscus

red sorrel, Florida cranberry, Jamaican sorrel

Placenta II Medium Mulch biomass
Mokkie · CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

An annual or short-lived subshrub in the Malvaceae, native to Africa and cultivated throughout the tropics. The fleshy red calyces are used to make tart juices, teas, jellies and preserves; the young leaves are eaten cooked, and the stem yields a bast fibre. It is a warm-climate plant, sensitive to frost.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Sabdariffa rubra Kostel.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta II
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Medium
Strata
Medium, Low
Biomass class
Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
5.5–7
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy
Hardiness zones
9–11
Frost tolerance
0.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
1.5–2.5 m
Recommended spacing
0.8–1.2 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Medium
Growth rate
Fast
Lifespan
1 year
Time to first harvest
6 months
Productive lifespan
1 year

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Roselle takes the Medium stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium · ≈3 m Low Ground cover

✂️ Management & Pruning

Pinch the apical shoot of young plants to force lateral branching and multiply the calyx-bearing stems, giving a fuller, more productive bush. Cut back over-tall stems to ease harvest; as an annual crop it needs no renewal pruning.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: April, May, June

Fruiting months: May, June, July

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of roselle?

The first harvest of roselle comes around 6 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for roselle?

The recommended spacing for roselle is 0.8–1.2 m.

How tall does roselle grow?

At maturity, roselle reaches 1.5–2.5 m tall.

When does roselle fruit?

Fruiting of roselle occurs in May, June, July.

When does roselle flower?

Flowering of roselle occurs in April, May, June.

What stage and stratum does roselle occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, roselle belongs to the placenta ii stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

Medicinal Fiber Ornamental 🐝 Attracts pollinators

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Wikipedia (Hibiscus sabdariffa) (description, height_max_m, functions, light_need)
  2. GBIF (scientific_name, family, external_ids)
  3. Plants For A Future (PFAF) (propagation, ph_min, ph_max)
  4. Plants For A Future (PFAF) — Hibiscus sabdariffa (pruning_notes, frost_tolerance_c, productive_lifespan_years)

External references

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